Shell Pasta With Goat Cheese and Basil Vinaigrette

Name: Shell Pasta With Goat Cheese and Basil Vinaigrette
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 4 serving(s)
Ingredients: 1 cup loosely packed fresh basil leaf; 2 garlic cloves, chopped; 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar; salt; fresh ground black pepper; 1/4 cup olive oil, plus; 2 tablespoons olive oil, extra; 8 ounces small shell pasta; 6 1/2 ounces goat cheese, crumbled; 6 1/2 ounces cherry tomatoes, halved; 3 1/2 ounces small black olives; 4 pieces focaccia bread; 3 tablespoons toasted pine nuts

Submitted by TishT

"You will be surprised at how pretty this dish looks for an appetizer or a light lunch. Enjoy!"

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Ready In:: 25mins
Ingredients:: 13
Serves:: 4

ingredients

Vinaigrette
1 cup loosely packed fresh basil leaf
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
salt
fresh ground black pepper
¹⁄₄ cup olive oil, plus
2 tablespoons olive oil, extra
8 ounces small shell pasta
6 ¹⁄₂ ounces goat cheese, crumbled
6 ¹⁄₂ ounces cherry tomatoes, halved
3 ¹⁄₂ ounces small black olives
4 pieces focaccia bread
3 tablespoons toasted pine nuts

directions

Place the basil, garlic, vinegar and salt and pepper in food processor.
Process until the basil is finely chopped.
Add the 1/4 cup of oil and process again until emulsified.
Set aside Cook the pasta in boiling salted water until al dente.
Run under cold water and drain.
Toss through enough of the basil vinaigrette to coat shells thoroughly.
Add the goat cheese and mix thoroughly.
Add the tomatoes and olives and stir to combine.
Add some more dressing, if necessary, but do not make the mixture too wet.
Toast the focaccia wedges and brush with a little of the extra oil.
Serve the wedges piled with the pasta mixture and sprinkled with toasted pine nuts.

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RECIPE SUBMITTED BY

TishT

Las Vegas, Nevada

I live in Las Vegas. I was lucky enough to run into Recipezaar around Nov. 2000 and got hooked quickly. I am a cookbook collector and have been collecting recipes for as long as I can remember. My DH had to build in shelves for all my cookbooks! I like to dabble with OAMC and for a few years hosted the Budget/OAMC forum with some great people over there. Even though I don't work in the forum any longer I've set up a lot of cookbooks for the purpose of OAMC and stretching food that might be helpful. Please feel free to check them out! I go on food jags and cooking jags! Please come say hi to me and chat on facebook. I currently host a blog for saving money through finding deals and coupons if you are interested. Most of the time I try to cook and have a good dinner on the table but I'll be honest enough to say there is still fast food occasionally in the budget! I have had such wonderful support here whenever I need it. Thank you all for being here! Just a quick note on how I rate recipes: ? 5 stars - This recipe is perfect. (My DH is truly a critic and doesn't give 5's unless it's amazing) I would recommend it to others and would definitely make again. ? 4 stars - This recipe was good but I would change something in it next time. ? 3 stars - This is a recipe I would not make again but it was OK ? 2 stars - This recipe I would not make again and we didn't like it at all ? 1 star - This recipes did not work out/taste was unappealing and wouldn't make again

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